Shoulder strap for accordions and other musical instruments



June 4, 1940. H. PETERSEN 2,203,234

SHOULDER swan FOR ACCORDIONS AND 0mm MUSICAL mswnumams Filed Jan. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Shet 2 4 2 23 2 7 I I I 1 I 1 '21,

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BY /%0C/(# w ATTORNEYS Patented June 4, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOULDER STRAP FOR ACCORDIONS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS tion of New York Application January 13, 1939, Serial No. 250,682

6 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved shoulder strap for accordions or other musical instruments.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro- 5 vide a construction whereby the shoulder straps will be caused to lie substantially flat against the accordion when said shoulder straps are not being used.

Another object is to provide spring means 10 which will automatically contract the shoulder straps when they are not in use, so that said straps will then lie snugly against the instrument.

Another object is to provide a simple and 15 reliable construction which can be readily applied to accordions of various sizes, shapes and styles.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the following description and drawings which 20 illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the above statement of the ob jects of my invention is intended generally to explain same without limiting it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing a part of an 5 accordion to which the improvement has been applied. In this view the shoulder straps are shown in the taut or contracted position.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. l. The broken-line position of the shoulder- 30 strap illustrates how the same is extended into operative position.

Fig 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view generally similar to Fig.

1 and showing the shoulder straps in their extended or operative position.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation showing a modification of the invention, the shoulder straps being shown in their extended and operative position.

40 Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the shoulder straps in their taut or inoperative position.

Fig. '7 is an elevation partially in section, on the line 7-! of Fig. 6.

45 The invention is shown as applied to a conventional accordion A, having the usual keyboard I. The instrument is provided with two shoulder straps 2 and 3. The shoulder strap 2 is preferably slightly longer than the shoulder strap 3. For convenience the invention is described with reference to the vertical position of the accordion which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

As shown in Fig. 2 the upper end of the shoulder strap 2 is connected by means of rivets or other 55 suitable fastening means 5, to a flexible end-strap 4. Said end-strap is connected by means of rivets 6 to the wall of the instrument. The upper end of the shoulder strap 3 is similarly connected to the end-strap 4, directly adjacent the corresponding upper end of the shoulder strap 2.

The shoulder straps 2 and 3 pass around and contact with a turnable roll I, which has a dividing flange 8.

Referring to Fig. 2, a spiral tension spring I6 is located in a casing 9. Part of the repre- 10 sentation of the casing 9 has been omitted in Fig. 1. This casing encloses the spring l0, save that the outer end of the spring It] extends through a suitable opening in said casing 9. The outer end of the spring I0 is connected by a member l3 to the adjacent end of the shoulder strap 2. The member l3 may be a rivet or a pivot pin. The shank of the fastening member i3 is located slidably in the slot. l2 of a link ll. Said slot I2 is closed at both ends thereof. The link H is pivotally connected by means of a member M to the lower end of the shoulder strap 3.

When the shoulder straps are not used, the tension of the spiral spring Iil pulls the shoulder strap 2 taut against the wall of the instrument, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 2. The pull of the tension spring Ill is transmitted to the adjacent end of the strap 3, through the link H and the shank of the member l3 which then abuts the upper closed end-wall of the slot l2. The strap 3 is therefore also pulled taut against the wall of the instrument. When a pull is exerted upon the shoulder straps, the tension spring I0 is extended as indicated in Fig. 4 and the lower ends of the shoulder straps 2 and 3 are moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, a little above the bottom wall of the instrument. The link ll is then turned from the inclined position shown in Fig. 1 and the bodies of the straps are extended relative to the casing of the accordion, until said bodies are in operative position, in which the shoulder of the musician can be inserted between the bodies of the shoulder straps and the casing of the accordion. The tension spring l0 constitutes pull-means which normally holds the straps in the full-line position indicated in Fig. 2, in which said straps are taut and the bodies of said straps substantially abut a portion of the casing of the accordion. The straps embrace a portion of the wall of the accordion.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, one end of each of the straps 2 and 3 is connected by rivets ll to a flexible end-strap 15, which is conwhich said intermediate portion is spaced away from said casing when said movable end of the shoulder strap is moved relative to the accordion in a predetermined direction, pull means extending outside of the casing and connected to said movable end of the shoulder strap and adapted to pull said movable end in a direction which is opposite to said. predetermined direction until the shoulder strap is substantially taut, the intermediate portion of the shoulder strap abutting and embracing the adjacent portion of the casing when said strap is taut.

6. An accordion having a casing, a shoulder strap having an intermediate portion and having 15 ends which are connected to said casing, compressio n spring means mounted on said casing, at least one end of said shoulder strap being movably connected to said compression spring, said shoulder strap embracing a portion of said casing, said springs means normally holding the associated movable end of the shoulder strap in a position in which the intermediate portion of the shoulder strap embraces and substantially abuts the associated portion of the casing, said intermediate portion being movable away from said casing when said movable end is moved against the force of said spring means so that the body of the shoulder strap is then spaced from said casing.

HERMAN PETERSEN.

H. PETERSEN 2,203,234 SHOULDER STRAP FOR ACCCRDIONS AND OTHER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS June 4, 1940.

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